Transcript Adapted from the work of Marlene Berro, MS, RAC Office of Ethics and Compliance February, 2015 How to Design an Outstanding Scholarly Poster.

Adapted from the work of
Marlene Berro, MS, RAC
Office of Ethics and
Compliance
February, 2015
How to Design
an Outstanding
Scholarly Poster
SECTION HEADING
What is a Scholarly Poster:
• A poster is concise overview of your project.
• Title: try and keep it short if possible
• Purpose/Introduction: invitation to read your poster;
can be in bullets or short paragraphs
• Methods/Approach: description of methods used; can
include graphics, flow charts, etc.
• Results/Product: if using tables, please try and keep
them short
• Discussion/Conclusion: try to use bullets with as little
punctuation as possible
• References: (optional) can be in a much smaller font
and optional
• Acknowledgement of support: grant wording and/or
thanking people
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What’s my message?
• Everything you put on your poster relates to a
carefully crafted message.
• All visuals and text should relate to those points
and conclusions.
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Keep Graphics Clean and Simple
• Focus on your data!
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Define Your Message
• All visuals and text should relate to a succinctly
stated message.
• Know your message! What is the one thing you
want your audience to learn?
• Be bold and be explicit.
– If you have an interesting result, state it clearly in the
title:
The Effect of Y on X
Substance X Induces Y-cells
– Make the strongest statements your data will support.
Why soft-peddle exciting findings?
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Know your audience
• Make your message accessible to a diverse
audience.
AUDIENCE TYPES:
1. People in your field of specialization:
–
No special efforts are required to attract them.
2. People in fields closely related to yours:
–
They worth capturing because they can have
interesting insights and perspectives.
3. People in unrelated fields:
–
They can be attracted by an accessible message
and also offer insights and links to distant fields.
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Headings
• Should include the title, section titles, and figure
captions:
• Summarize:
– Use headings as opportunities to summarize your
work in large letters.
• Organize:
– Good headings are part of the visual grammar that
helps to move readers through your poster.
• Use Hierarchy:
– The more important the point, the larger the type.
• Be Bold:
– Make the strongest statements your research allows.
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The process
Planning
Focus
Layout
Headings
Graphics
Colors
Editing
Takes time
Keep it simple
Guide your readers
Orientation
Keep it simple
Don’t overdo it
Always allow enough time
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Suggested Schedule
• Below are some ideas for establishing milestones. This
schedule assumes that you're doing other things during
the week. It also allows time for you to get feedback from
collaborators and peers.
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• Present!
-1 week
• Final submission
-1 week
• Make changes suggested by mentor and peers
-1 week
• Distribute draft for mentor AND peer review (round 2)
- 2 weeks
• Make changes suggested by mentor
-2 weeks
• Distribute draft for your mentor review (round 1)
-3 weeks
• Begin to edit your draft ruthlessly
-3 weeks
• Create first draft of poster
-4 weeks
• Plan out poster on template or scratch paper
-4 weeks
• Define message and write the abstract
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Poster Specs and Dates
• Specifications:
– Height: 28.5”
– Width: 55”
– Use the poster formats provided
– Retain header formatting, logos, and
acknowledgement sections.
– All other color, formatting, design and flare is up to
you!
• Deadline:
– Submit online via eposterslive.com by April 20th
– You will receive instructions on how to do this
via email.
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Additional Poster Templates
• Poster resources and templates can be found
at:
the CTSI website:
http://ctsi.ucsf.edu/about-us/ctsi-identity
The UCSF Library website:
http://www.library.ucsf.edu/help/postersupport
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Sample Word Counts
• Approximate word counts should be as follows
depending on your graphics:
– TITLE: not too long – convey the “issue”
– INTRO: max 150 words, bulleted or short paragraphs
– METHODS: max 150 words, describe each step
– AIMS: 50 words, not an abstract
– ANALYSIS: 60 words
– RESULTS: 250 words (not counting figures)
– CONCLUSION: 125 words, bulleted or short
paragraphs.
– ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: 50 words
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Edit! Edit! Edit
• Edit all text to simplify verbiage, to reduce
sentence complexity, and to delete details.
• If it's not relevant to your message, remove it!
• Have colleagues comment on drafts.
• Print a small version and circulate for comment,
or hang a full-size draft with pens and invite
them to critique.
• Are your objective and main message obvious?
• Will readers be able to contact you?
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Questions?
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